Electro plating device

ABSTRACT

INCLUDES A SOLUTION GROOVE, SEALS, AND A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING A PASSAGE THAT SUPPLIED FLUID TO THE ANODE. THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT PATH IS THROUGH THE DRIVE EXTENSION, THE ANODE ARBOR, AND THEN TO THE ROTATING ANODE.   AN ELECTRO PLATING DEVICE INCLUDING AN ANODE MOUNTED ON AN ANODE OPERATING MECHANISM. THE ANODE OPERATING MECHANISM CONTINUOUSLY ROTATES AND PASSES PLATING SOLUTION THROUGH THE ANODE. THE ANODE IS CYLINDRICAL, HAS AN INTERIOR CAVITY, AND A PLURALITY OF SMALL RADIAL PASSAGES EXTENDING FROM THE INTERIOR CAVITY TO THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF THE ANODE. THE ANODE OPERATING MECHANISM INCLUDES A ROTATABLY MOUNTED ANODE ARBOR THAT IS DEIVEN BY A DRIVE EXTENSION AND AN EXTERNAL POWER SOURCE. THE ANODE ARBOR

July 3, 1973 R. H. ROLL ELECTHO PLATING DEVICE Filed April 26, 1971 .S QE

United States Patent 3,743,590 ELECTRO PLATING DEVICE Robert H. Roll, 18215 Los Alamos St., Northridge, Calif. 91324 Filed Apr. 26, 1971, Ser. No. 137,289 Int. Cl. C23b 5/68, 5/ 76 US. Cl. 204-212 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electro plating device including an anode mounted on an anode operating mechanism. The anode operating mechanism continuously rotates and passes plating solution through the anode. The anode is cylindrical, has an interior cavity, and a plurality of small radial passages extending from the interior cavity to the outside surface of the anode. The anode operating mechanism includes a rotatably mounted anode arbor that is driven by a drive extension and an external power source. The anode arbor includes a solution groove, seals, and a longitudinally extending passage that supplies fluid to the anode. The electrical current path is through the drive extension, the anode arbor, and then to the rotating anode.

STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention.The present invention relates to an electro plating device and more particularly to an electro plating device, for plating inside cylindrical surfaces, that has a rotating anode and a continuous supply of plating solution provided through the anode to provide minimum anode deterioration and optimum surface plating.

Description of the prior art-Prior systems used for electro plating inside surfaces of cylinders have included the total immersion technique and a technique using a simple cylindrical anode machined to fit within the cylinder to be plated. The total immersion technique has the disadvantage of not providing localized plating. While the old cylindrical anode technique provided for localized plating, it has been found in using this technique that the anode had to be periodically removed to allow fresh plating solution to be pumped onto the anode. Because of this it is difficult to confine the plating solution to the area being plated. Another limitation of this technique is that excessive heating causes a reduction in plating current which seriously limits the amount of buildup of plating material. Moreover, excessive heating caused by solution starvation, causes the carbon of the carbon anode to break down. As a result of these drawbacks, it has been necessary to frequently remove the anode for cleaning, cooling, or replacement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes these aforementioned disadvantages by providing an electro plating device that both rotates the anode and continuously passes plating solution therethrough. This unique technique keeps the anode cool and continuously makes fresh plating solution available.

Briefly, the present invention comprises an anode operating mechanism for rotating an electro plating anode and for providing a continuous flow of plating solution to the rotating anode. The anode is cylindrical, has an interior cylindrical cavity that is closed at one end, and

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has radial passages extending from the cylindrical cavity radially outward to the exterior surface of the anode, through which the plating solution passes. The anode operating mechanism includes an anode arbor which is rotatably mounted in a housing. An anode drive extension has one end rotatably mounted in a drive socket and is driven by an external power source. The other end is connected to one end of the anode arbor. The rotating anode is connected to the other end of the anode arbor. Plating fluid is supplied from an external source through a solution groove and then through a longitudinally extending passage in the anode arbor to the rotating anode. The plating solution then passes into the interior anode cavity and then radially outward through the radial passages and into the space formed between the cylinder wall and the anode. The electrical current path is through the drive extension, the anode arbor, the anode, the plating solution, the cylinder being plated, and back to the current source.

STATEMENT OF THE OBJECTS OF INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an improved electro plating device that minimizes anode cleaning and replacement.

Another object is to provide an electro plating device having an anode operating mechanism that continuously rotates and supplies plating solution to the anode.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the anode operating mechanism of the present invention; and

FIG. 1A is a sectional view of the anode of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 and FIG. 1A are respectively illustrated the anode operating mechanism 15 and the anode 13 of the plating device 11 of the present invention. Anode 13 is mounted on the end of anode operating mechanism 15 which both rotates and continuously supplies plating solution to anode 13.

The operating mechanism 15 includes five primary sections which are: anode arbor 17, anode arbor housing 19, anode drive extension 21, drive socket 23, and handle 25. Anode arbor 17 is circular in cross-section and includes interior section 27, shoulder section 29, and anode mounting section 31. Interior section 27 includes solution groove 33 for receiving plating solution and O-ring grooves 35, 37 for receiving O-rings 39 and 41. The inside end of interior section 27 has a threaded opening 43. A longitudinally extending opening 45 extends from the outside end of anode mounting section 31 of anode arbor 17 to a position adjacent solution groove 33. The outside end of opening 45 is provided with female threads 47 and the inside end communicates with solution groove 33 by means of a plurality of radially extending openings 49. From this it can be seen that plating solution may flow from groove 33 through radial openings 49 and through longitudinally extending opening 45 as indicated by the arrows. Anode mounting section 31 includes male threads 51, for receiving rotatable anode 13, and a groove 53 for receiving O-ring 55. Shoulder section 29 includes a shoulder 57 for supporting O-ring 55 and shoulder 59 for abutting against the end of anode arbor housing 19.

Anode arbor housing 19 includes an outside cylindrical section 61 and an inside cylindrical section '63. Outside cylindrical section 61 is provided with a threaded opening 65 that communicates with solution groove 33 to which solution hose connector 67 is attached. Interior section 27 of anode arbor 17 rotates within outside cylindrical section '61 of anode arbor housing 19. O-rings 35 and 37 provide the necessary seal for preventing the leakage of the plating solution from groove 33 to the outside regions of the plating device 11.

One end of anode drive extension 21 rotates within inside cylindrical section '63 of anode arbor housing 19 and has a threaded male extension 69 that is threaded into threaded opening 43 of anode arbor 17 for attachment thereto. The other end of anode drive extension 21 includes a ball bearing race groove 71, tapered section 73 and projection 75. A longitudinally extending cylindrical opening 77 is provided in projection 75 and extends into drive socket 23.

,Drive socket 23 includes an outwardly extending section 79, shoulder 81, and inwardly extending section 83 A ball bearing race groove 85 is provided on the interior surface of inwardly extending section 83 which is opposite ballbearing race groove 71 of anode drive extension 21. A ball bearing loading opening 87 is provided to communicate with ball bearing race groove 85. An opening 89 is provided in drive socket 23 for retaining steel ball 91. The inside diameter of opening 89 is less than the diameter of ball 91 to prevent it from passing therethrough. A semicircular spring 93 is provided to retain ball 91 in opening 89. A powered flexible drive, not shown, is retained in place by spring biased ball 91 and is connected to projection 75 to cause the rotation thereof.

Handle 25 functions to hold anode arbor housing 19 and drive socket 23 in spaced-apart fixed relationship. Handle 25 is provided with an enlarged opening 95 that receives inside cylindrical section 63 of anode arbor housing 19. The diameter of enlarged opening 95 is made slightly smaller than the diameter of inside cylindrical section 63 to provide a force fit and thereby hold the handle 25 and arbor housing 19 in fixed contact. Handle 25 is also provided with enlarged opening 97 that receives inwardly extending section 83 of drive socket 23. The diameter of enlarged opening 97 is made slightly smaller than the diameter of inwardly extending section 83 to provide a force fit and thereby hold the handle 25 and drive socket 23 in fixed contact. Handle 25 is also provided with a ball bearing loading opening '99 that communicates with ball bearing loading opening 87 of drive socket 23. After assembly of anode drive extension 21, drive socket 23, and handle 25 steel balls 101 are inserted through loading openings 87 and 99' and into ball bearing race grooves 71 and 85. A bolt 103 is threaded into opening 99 to retain the balls 101 in position. Balls 101 perform three essential functions. These are providing minimum frictional rotation of drive extension 21 within drive socket 23, preventing longitudinal movement of drive extension 21 within drive socket 23 and providing electrical contact between section 83 of drive socket 23 and anode drive extension 21. An electrical binding post 105 is threaded into openings 107 and 109, provided in handle 25 and drive socket 23, respectively. It is to be understood that a carbon brush, not shown, or the like may be positioned between anode drive extension 21 and the lower end of electrical binding post 105 to provide an electrical connection therebetween.

Anode 13 is preferably cylindrical and is made of carbon and is provided with a longitudinally extending threaded central opening 113. A plurality of radially extending passages 115 communicate between the closed end of opening 113 and the exterior surface of anode 13 to provide for the flow of plating solution. The length 1 of opening 113, that is to the left of passages 115, is selected to be about equal to the length l of anOde mounting section 31 of anode arbor 17 to provide for the free flow of plating solution from through opening 45 and passages 115 when the anode is attached to the driving mechanism.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that current from a power source, not shown, passes through binding port 105, steel balls 101, anode drive extension 21, anode arbor 17, anode 13, through the plating solution, not shown, through the material being plated, not shown, and back to the power source. Also a continuous flow of plating solution flows through solution hose connector 67 radially extending passages 115 of anode 13, and between the small space formed between the rotating anode 13 and the cylinder into which it is inserted, not shown. Therefore, by the proper selection of current, plating solution and time duration of operation, the above described invention has been found to be very satisfactory for plating the interior surface of cylindrical objects. It has been found that nearly any thickness of plate may be applied without undesirable interruption of the plating process.

The sizes of components and types of materials from which the various components of the above described device may be made will be obvious to one skilled in the art. However, it has been found that highly satisfactory performance is achieved if various components are made in the following manner: Anode arbor 17 is made from 1% inch round stock 2024-T-6 aluminum or 303A stainless steel; epoxy coating is applied to all areas in contact with plating solution; a A; inch l4-thread is machined at section 31; four openings 49 are provided; and a inch 24-thread anode arbor housing 19 is made from 1% inch phenolic or nylon rod. Anode drive extension 21 is made from /2 inch aluminum bronze bar stock and ball bearing race groove 71 is 4; inch wide and A inch deep. Drive socket 23 is made from 1 inch 2024-T-6 aluminum bar stock; ball bearings race groove is A inch wide and inch deep; steel balls are /a inch diameter and steel ball 91 has a inch diameter. Handle 25 has a length of about 4 inches, an outside diameter of 1 inch, an inside diameter of /2 inch and is made of a fiber base phenolic resin tubing.

In practicing the present invention, it is to be understood that a porous, soft, dielectric material is normally positioned between the rotating anode and the material being plated. Typically this material may be various types of cloth, gauze, or felt, which is Wrapped around the anode of the present invention. This is done to prevent shorting the anode to the plated material which is connected to the cathode.

Another anode embodiment of the present invention comprises an anode having openings that pass from the closed end of central opening 113, through the closed end thereof, and to the exterior end surface as shown by the dotted lines and indicated by reference numeral 117. This type of anode has particular utility for plating flat surfaces such as the bottom end of a blind hole. It is also to be understood that the anode embodiments may be shaped to have male threads that cooperate with the female threads 119 of FIG. 1. Alternately, the anodes may have a smooth shaft that cooperates with a collet attached to the anode operating mechanism.

What is claimed is:

1. An anode operating mechanism comprising:

(a) an anode arbor;

(b) an anode drive extension having one end operatively connected to one end of said anode arbor;

(c) said anode arbor including a longitudinally extending opening having an open end at the other end of said anode arbor and a closed end at a position that is a predetermined distance from said one end of said anode arbor;

(d) at least one passage extending radially outward from said closed end of said opening to a position that is on the periphery of said anode arbor;

(e) said anode arbor is cylindrical and includes a circular groove that is on the periphery of said anode arbor; and

(f) said at least one passage communicates with said groove.

2. The device of claim 1 including;

(a) a cylindrical anode arbor housing;

(b) said one end of said anode arbor being rotatably mounted in said anode arbor housing (c) a cylindrical handle having one end connected to said anode arbor housing; and

(d) the other end of said anode drive extension being rotatably mounted in the other end of said handle.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein:

'(a) first and second O-ring are respectively provided on each side of said groove and between said anode arbor and said anode arbor housing.

4. The device of claim 3 including:

(a) an anode operatively connected to said other end of said anode arbor;

(b) said other end of said anode arbor having male threads;

(c) said anode comprising a cylindrical body including a cylindrical cavity open at one end and closed at the other end and having female threads extending along the peripheral surface thereof that cooperate with said male threads of said anode arbor;

(d) said anode including a plurality of radially extending passages interconnecting the closed end of said cylindrical cavity of said anode and the exterior peripheral surface thereof; and

(e) the open end of the cylindrical cavity of said anode being in communication with the open end of said cavity of said anode arbor.

5. An anode for electroplating comprising:

(a) a cylindrical body;

(b) said cylindrical body including a cylindrical interior cavity that is closed at one end and has female threads extending along the peripheral surface thereof;

(c) a plurality of radially extending passages extending between said interior cavity and the exterior periphery of said cylindrical body; and

(d) one end of each of said radially extending passages communicates with said cavity at a position adjacent the closed end thereof.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein:

(a) said anode is made of carbon;

(b) each said one end of each of said passages are positioned at a first predetermined longitudinal distance from said closed end of said anode and each of the other ends of said passages are positioned at a second predetermined longitudinal distance from said closed end; and

(c) said second predetermined distance is greater than said first predetermined distance.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,183,176 5/1965 Schwartz, Jr 204224 X 2,689,215 9/1954 Bart 204-224 X 2,764,540 9/1956 Farin et al. 204-272 X 3,409,524 11/1968 Olson 204284 X GERALD L. KAPLAN, Primary Examiner D. R. VALENTINE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

